Page 50 of Hooded (Gladiators of the Gryn #5)

FERN

I cast a glance over my shoulder at the two Gryn on my ship. Ayar and Vypr. Strykr, the leader of the elite team, insisted I keep them with me, although he cautioned me not to get too close.

“Not if you want your reunion with your mate not to be punctuated by limbs being ripped off,” he said.

Ayar huffed something about ‘try it’, and Vypr pointed out they were mated males and this wouldn’t be an issue.

But I’ve still taken Strykr’s advice and made them sit farther away from me than I normally would. Any help I can get to find Klynn is gratefully received.

And these Gryn were only too happy to help. I can’t quite shake the feeling that, like Klynn, they are more than happy to seek out the fight. Or possibly create one in an empty room.

“Any sign?” Vypr asks, narrowing his eyes at the console in front of him as Ayar slowly works his way through his feathers, preening each one with a look of concentration I’ve seen before.

Klynn might not be exactly the same as these Gryn, but the traits they share are scarily similar.

“The Varangy engine signature isn’t strong, but I’ve locked it in, and we can follow it,” I respond. “There’s some ration bars in the food prep area if either of you are hungry,” I add.

Klynn was always hungry, a huge male like him, like these, needing plenty of fuel.

Clearly, I don’t have to make the suggestion twice to Ayar, who is off like a shot into the rear.

“Ayar never passes up an opportunity to eat.” Vypr shrugs.

“Very sensible,” I reply.

His comm bursts into life with Strykr’s voice. “Have we picked up the engine signature yet?”

“Yes, Guv. Follow us.” He looks over at me as he mutes his comm. “When do you think we’ll intercept them?”

“Bear with me.” I punch in the various calculations I require from the hunter systems. “I have a projected trajectory.”

“Share it with the others,” he says as Ayar returns, arms loaded with rations and his cheeks bulging.

I put the mapping up on the screen and send it out to the other Gryn vessels.

“How accurate is this?” Jay fires through Vypr’s comm.

“Reasonably accurate,” I say. “Why?”

“It sets us on a course for Hatul,” Jay replies.

Vypr looks over at Ayar.

“What’s Hatul?” I ask, as ice forms in my stomach and spreads out into my limbs. “Is it dangerous?”

“It’s where Mylo was going, last time we spoke with him,” Ayar says.

“I’ve heard of Mylo…he was the one who found Klynn.”

“Mylo has been at the forefront of the drive to find other Gryn,” Vypr says, taking a ration bar from Ayar before they all disappear. “He was certain he’d found where all the Gryn were processed after being taken from Ustokos. He was hoping to find some females.”

“When did you last hear from him?” I ask.

“Not so long ago, but since then, nothing. Unfortunately he chose not to share the location on Hatul with anyone.”

“If he’s there, and that’s where the Varangy took Klynn, it can’t be a coincidence,” I say.

“I agree.” Vypr nods. “Guv, we need to get to Hatul as soon as possible.”

“Mistress.” Ayar hands a ration bar to me, his feathers shivering as he extends his clawed hand.

“Ayar,” Vypr says with a warning tone. “What have we said about mated females?”

The big Gryn checks over his shoulder and then shuffles back a pace. “Mated females should be given space,” he mumbles.

Vypr smiles and shrugs before running one hand down Ayar’s wing in a gesture which is entirely filled with love.

“Thank you, Ayar,” I say, taking the ration bar from him.

“You have a youngling. You will be hungry. Our mate always is.” He smiles a crooked smile.

“We’ll be at Hatul within the next ten nova-minutes,” I tell Vypr. “Do you have a plan?”

“Nope.” He grins at me. “No plan other than to find Mylo, and your mate, before laying waste to whatever it is that thinks it can continue to take Gryn from the galaxy and control them.”

These Gryn and Klynn are most definitely from the same place, regardless of how they might look. From Ayar’s broken smile to Vypr’s desire for violence, it seems you can take a Gryn from Ustokos, but you can’t take Ustokos from the Gryn.

For the first time since leaving Fenes, I’m starting to have some hope. Only we have to get to Hatul first, and who knows what will stand in our way.